OK, the hockey internet wires are buzzing with rumors and one of them has former Devils center John Madden, a free agent not playing with anyone, to be on the radar screen of the injury depleted Panthers. With two of their best centers hurting (Stephen Weiss and Marcel Goc) GM Dale Tallon is looking for some experience down the middle and the 38-year-old Madden played for his Blackhawks champs of two seasons ago. Got to admit I’m a Mark Cullen fan. He was 5-2 on faceoffs tonight and notched an assist. And center Tim Kennedy had one of his best games of the season with a great dig and assist to Erik Gudbranson, as well as 6-2 on faceoffs. And the Panthers had 16 blocked shots to Toronto’s 8. It’s the Leafs who perennially lead the league in blocks.

i love us born players so i hate to see them go but /tim bill usa./ rep czech and dads rus can fight it out let maddon in. panthers can use a trade but mads puts teams over the top. i watched him as a dev and wished he was on my team ’said the same about gomez yikes’ anyways no trades wait till players come back sign what u need. how about huds bjust? and rau lets go prospects

yeah not too sure what in the world he’s talking about exactly.. but as far as prospects, there are rules about bringing them up to the NHL level and Tallon would never risk their health or their status’s to bring them here. Next year, Howden and Huberdeau will be tearing it up here. As for now, a trade is all we will be able to do. Last night’s win was awesome, but just how long can we keep it up? Getting healthy is a must. I wouldn’t mind Madden, but I wouldn’t want to over pay for him only to see him as a healthy scratch when our guys get back here.

Not too many nice words for Repik and Dadonov, as usual, G forbid !!!
REPIK WAS STELLAR AND DADONOV DISHED THOMAS A GOAL ON A SILVER PLATE< HE ONLY HAD TO BREATH ON THE PUCK AND WENT IN-THAT THE STORY OF LAST NIGHT: GUDBRANSON REPIK AND DADONOV

On Madden, I think it’s a done deal. I agree that he’s old, but not an average 35+ player. Think Gary Roberts. 3 Cups and a great reputation with every teammate he’s played with.

Versteeg has a lot of great things to say about him and he got an even dozen goals with the Wild last season. That’s a quick-moving club. Presumably, he’s in top condition and ready for wear. He was hoping the Devils would’ve picked him up, otherwise, he was gonna hang it up.

Maybe the surprise of being courted by a team he never thought would come calling will ultimately make him a wise pick-up.

We’re still in need of a name center. Santorelli’s not what we thought. The money satisfied his hunger.

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About the author

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.